"Then what have _you_ been doing?" asked Billy. They stood over her,
both looking so worried that Winona felt like hugging them, or crying,
or both.
"It isn't anything," she said. "Except--well, I did it myself. Somebody
had to stay off the float, because there wasn't room for everyone, so I
elected myself. And--and--oh, I _did_ want to be in that carnival!
But"--she straightened bravely, and smiled up into the two indignant
faces--"I guess it's all right, after all. If I could decorate my
rowboat it would be all right, but I can't, because they're going to
need it to carry properties in."
"It's a confounded shame," said Billy Lee, "and after you planned it,
and all! You ought to have a float of your own. I'll tell you, Winona,
why don't you decorate a canoe?"
"Only reason is, I haven't a canoe," laughed Winona--they were all three
sitting in a row in the grass by this time.
"I have," said Billy, "and you're more than welcome to it, and to all
the help I can give you on it."
"And I've got some change you're welcome to for decorations," added Tom.
"Oh, how perfectly lovely!" said Winona, jumping up with her face aglow.
"Indeed I will decorate it, and thank you both, ever and ever so much. I
have ever so many lovely ideas for decorations. Billy!"
She stopped short.
"Well?" said Billy.
"Would you mind being in the canoe with me?"
"Sure, I'd love to," said Billy heartily, whether he really meant it or
not.
"Oh, thank you _so_ much!" cried Winona again.
"That's the way to take it!" said Tom. "We'll get you up a canoe,
between us, that'll make your old Camp Fire float look like a bad
quarter and a plugged nickel--see if we don't!"